A fired Altoona school bus driver who
believed being fingerprinted would leave
the mark of the devil on her has won a
court battle to receive unemployment
benefits.
Bonnie Kaite lost her job with Altoona
Student Transportation Inc. in 2015 after
telling the company being fingerprinted
for a background check could bar her
from heaven.
The student transportation company
declined comment.
The state unemployment board denied her
benefits last year, saying the belief was
personal, not religious. It said her belief
was based on her father's interpretation
of the Bible, not the teachings of a
religious organization.
A Commonwealth Court panel overturned that
decision Wednesday. The panel found Kaite's
beliefs were sincerely held religious
convictions, even if she practiced them
only at home.
Kaite has sued her former employer for
religious discrimination. The company
says it was told the background check
required fingerprints.